Fertilisers

Question 1

rivers an Why are fertilsiers used?

Answer 1

= replaces the nitrates phosphate ions lost in the soil when plants are harvested and removed from nutrient cycles

Question 2

What are the 2 types?

Answer 2

= artificial- inorganic chemicals
= natural: manure

Question 3

What are natural fertilisers?

Answer 3

= cheaper
= free if farmer owns animals
= exact materials and porportions cannot be controlled

Question 4

What are artificial fertilisers?

Answer 4

= chemicals created to contain exact porportions minerals
= inorganic substances are more soluable in water and therfore more of these ions dissolve in the water surrounding the soil
= advantage of the plant for absorbing the nitrates and phosphates
= high solubility means large quanities are washed away with rainfall and have impact on environment

Question 5

What is leaching?

Answer 5

= when water soluable compounds are washed away often in rivers and ponds

Question 6

What is eutrophication?

Answer 6

= nitrates leached from fertilisied feilds, stimulate growth of algae in ponds
= this excessive growth creates a blanket of algae, o n the surface of the water blocks out light
= plants below cannoy photosynthesise, and die
= bacteria within water feed on and respire dead plants,
= increase in bacteria, respiring and uses up oxygen- compeition
= fish and aquatic orhanisms die due to lack of dissolved oxygen in water